In an atmosphere of profound ecclesial communion and fraternal joy, Pope Leo XIV received the delegation of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) in audience on Wednesday, October 29, at the Vatican.
The meeting was a moment of gratitude, listening, and hope, in which CEAMA shared with the Holy Father the journey it has taken since its foundation, the progress made in its synodal apostolic horizons, and the challenges of its mission in the heart of the Amazon.
CEAMA: fruit of the Synod and sign of synodality
Cardinal Pedro Barreto, president of CEAMA, reminded the Holy Father that this organization was born as a fruit of the Synod for the Amazon (2019) and was officially established on June 29, 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, as a concrete expression of synodality lived in the region.
“CEAMA reflects the living communion between the peoples, consecrated life, bishops, laity, priests, and indigenous peoples of the Amazon. It is a sign that the Synod continues to move forward,” said Cardinal Barreto.
Pope Leo XIV listened attentively to the testimonies of the CEAMA representatives, who presented initiatives for pastoral accompaniment, formation, integral ecology, and listening to the local Churches in the nine countries that make up the Amazon region.
The Pontiff highlighted the richness of the Amazonian experience as an example of what it means to “walk together” in the Church: a model of participation, discernment, and service inspired by the Gospel.
The Pope with an Amazonian heart
During the audience, the Pope reaffirmed his closeness to the peoples of the Amazon and his admiration for the simple, communal, and incarnate faith of the local communities.
“Thank you for caring for that heart and for reminding us that synodality is learned from the margins, where the Spirit speaks with power.”
The Pontiff encouraged CEAMA to continue to be a prophetic voice in the face of the social, ecological, and spiritual challenges of the region, and to continue weaving networks of hope.
Women in the Amazonian Church
One of the highlights of the dialogue was the role of women in the Amazonian Church.
Sister Laura Vicuña, representative of consecrated life in CEAMA, said that “the presence of women is essential in the processes of evangelization and synodality; it is women who sustain the faith, accompany communities, and safeguard life in the territory.”
Pope Leo XIV gratefully acknowledged the contribution of Amazonian women—both consecrated and lay.
Synodal Apostolic Horizons
Monsignor Zenildo Lima, president of CEAMA, presented to the Pope the ongoing discernment process to define the Synodal Apostolic Horizons, the fruit of listening and dialogue with local Churches, episcopal conferences, and Amazonian peoples.
This process seeks to guide the missionary and pastoral priorities of CEAMA, strengthening the articulation and co-responsibility among the different ecclesial actors in the territory.
“We are certain that the Spirit is guiding a process. The Amazon teaches us that synodality is not decreed, it is lived.”
The Pope encouraged them to continue this discernment with patience and hope, recalling that “the true processes of the Spirit grow without haste: in silence, with time, and with everyone advancing at the same pace.”
The path of the bishops of the Amazon
The delegation also shared with the Pope the fruits of the Meeting of Bishops of the Amazon, held recently in Bogotá, which brought together more than 90 bishops from across the region.
This event marked a new impetus in Amazonian ecclesial articulation, evidencing the vitality of the local Churches and their desire to walk together in mission.
A sign of communion from the territory
At the conclusion of the audience, the CEAMA delegation offered the Holy Father a sign of gratitude and communion: a hammock woven from moriche fiber, made by Karismar Sánchez, an indigenous woman from the Warao people, originally from the state of Delta Amacuro (Venezuela) and currently a migrant in Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil.
Photo: Vatican Media